Tuesday, December 31, 2013

dreams of summer and cabo

Photos, memory and simplicity will be my friends as I reconstruct the feel of Cabo.

On another note, the "Welcome to 2014 Free Painting" drawing is here. How do you enter? There are many ways.
1. You can make a comment.
2. You can like my Facebook page.
3. You can become a follower of my blog.
Each way gives you an entry. Do all three and you have 3 entries. Easy, eh?
The drawing will be January 12th at 9:00pm EST. Baby (the cat) is the judge that pulls the name. I will post the choice of paintings on January 1st or 2nd....but you may begin entering now.

Monday, December 30, 2013

hope for the future

Hong Kong at Dawn by Sam

Washington DC at the End of the Day by Nathan
I am back! Sorry for my disappearing act. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. My Dad took the family on an amazing trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and for the first time ever I did not bring paint or pastel! Today I return to the studio, but instead of showing what I am up to I wanted to share two photos of my youngest student's work. After an in-depth study of contemporary cityscape painters and work in color/mood, size, scale and overlap the young artists began to work. Here are just two of the many beautiful cityscape paintings our upcoming young artists have created. Look out for them in about 15 years!
PS Stay tuned for the next painting give-away. Start the new year right. Baby (my kitty who picked the winner last time -Nika) is excited and ready to do it again. Instructions on how to enter will be upcoming.

Monday, December 16, 2013

tips for keeping warm while painting

pastel 6x6
This is a plein air piece that was finished in the studio. Brrrrr, it's cold outside, but painting outdoors is absolutely wonderful. Gone are all the greens. Make way for the beautiful neutrals!
While working outdoors with oils you can wear full coverage gloves, but hen you work with pastels you have to have at least your finger tips exposed. You need to hold and feel the pastel. Here are two of my favorite tools help pastel artists from freezing.  Wool fingerless gloves are a must. I like the kind with the half fingers, rather than the open hand. Second, once those fingertips are frozen (if you don't have a car nearby to warm them) take out one of those little bags of heat (especially the reusable ones- link below.) Keep one in your pockets and break it open. Presto! You are good for a couple hours more. Happy outdoor painting!

Check out this link for reusable heat.

Friday, December 13, 2013

first snow at the lake

oil on wood
 Snow is one of those things that refuses to be photographed well. Therefore you have two choices: paint it from life or memorize and paint from memory.  I chose a mix of life and memory for this one. I began it two years ago and Tuesday's snow helped me know how to complete it.
Snow seems to absorb light, both in shadow and full light. Pinks, greens, peach, lemon, blue and violet are all part of its color scheme.Variation of temperature within value is the key to make it work. Subtle.
The first snow of the year is a special time. Two years we have been without any real snow, so the 3 inches we received on Tuesday brought real excitement. For those in real snow country, it's laughable, I know, but here it's special. Fears of the dreaded ice mix shut down most work and many were out, wanting to be part of the exciting snow.
BTW There is an excellent "Iconic Snowscenes new York" exhibit at the Wally Finlay Gallery in NYC. While you are in town be sure to see Jeremy Lipking's 23 new paintings in a solo-show at Arcadia Contemporary. The show runs from December 12th-31st 2013. Wow! I will go next week...and report more later.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

but one paints with emotion

Who told you that one paints with colors? One makes use of colors, but one paints with emotions. (Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin)


Only those who love color are admitted to its beauty and immanent presence. It affords utility to all, but unveils its deeper mysteries only to its devotees. (Johannes Itten)


If one says 'red' - the name of color - and there are fifty people listening, it can be expected that there will be fifty reds in their minds. And one can be sure that all these reds will be very different. (Josef Albers)

 A special thank you to Robert Genn and his wonderful art quotes.

Monday, December 9, 2013

size makes a difference.

oil 36x36
Taking a small painting and making it work as a large piece is not as simple as just sizing up. A different size requires a different look. This painting had this smaller 13x12 pastel as its inspiration. Some painters will grid a small painting and copy it.  I find that a larger painting needs a larger life.... it's not longer an intimate jewel.... it's more of an experience that you enter.
small pastel 12x13 (about)
In this one it no longer felt right to stream the trees across, one tree wanted to be the star. Enter sky.  This painting had so many metamorphoses.....I can't count. Yes, I had a thumbnail, but this was a bossy painting. Maybe that's what red is.
Now it will sit till I decide..done, or not.
BTW Due to the ice storm on Sunday the Waverly Street Gallery will continue the special holiday party on the night of the opening reception So please come join us on Friday, December 13, 6-9pm

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

almost ready

Doing the finishing framing for the Holiday Show at the Waverly Street Gallery. I have 12 -6"x6" small paintings that I have framed in large 4" wide frames. A new look for me, I think I like it. What do you think? The show opens on Tuesday the 10th and goes till January 4th. There's a sneak peek party on Sunday at 4pm.
BTW, today is my birthday! Yay!


Monday, December 2, 2013

Wolf Kahn on Hans Hoffman

oil painting, Hans Hoffman
Long ago, when I was in Art School I would set up a still life of scattered laundry using Hans Hoffman paintings as my inspiration. Hoffman's paintings were a guide to tell me where to place the colors of my scattered laundry pieces.
Hoffman was the teacher of many painters we know and love. Wolf Kahn was one of his students. Wolf Kahn use of color and love of the landscape amazed me. Today when I was browsing the internet I found this interesting interview. Here is a link to the PBS interview of WK in which  he speaks about his time as a student of Hans Hoffman.

Quote of the day-Hans Hoffman
"My aim in painting is to create pulsating, luminous and open surfaces that emanate a mystic light, in accordance with deepest insight into the experience of life and nature."